"The corporation," Yihui said
"Love" obsession said
"Nobody" kat said smiling.
"Okay, what if it's possible that the HC can't be fully trusted," Xu Ling said quietly.
"What do you mean by that Xu Ling" Yihui said frowning.
"I agree. They have no sense of love" Obsession said nodding
"I never trust someone who slaps a collar on me unjustly anyway" kat said nodding too. Xu Ling was grateful that these two were easy to convince not that he blames them since after all they do face prejudice in their workplace, which only left Yihui.
"There is obviously something going on here. First was the fact that a possessed doll that was so powerful wasn't found out but placed in a kid's hands who was perfectly suited for it providing a meal for it too...."
"We were sent to investigate to determine that so it doesn't count" she interrupted me still in denial
"What of the most recent job, where a human-ghost crossbreed was created. Something that accurate in disguise must have taken a lot of dark mana and human sacrifice to create but we got sent there just at the last minute. I'm pretty sure we were meant to be the greatest meal if Chen Shu hadn't become an awakened" Xu Ling argued.
"I still don't see how the corporation is involved in something someone else probably orchestrated"
"Do you really think a corporation that has existed since the time of dungeon and light mana users would let someone run amok without question" he replied raising an eyebrow.
"But what if they aren't aware that there are people seeking to destroy them" she said not giving in. Xu Ling was about to ask that it was impossible not to notice when Kat interrupted
"Hey, did they buy you off or something. Jeez just run back to them like a little girl if you're scared" she said sounding annoyed.
"What did you say psycho" Yihui said her eyes glaring dangerously at kat. Xu Ling kept quiet and decided to let her vent out the reason why she refuses to believe it.
"I said you should get your head out of their asses and accept reality. People aren't all they cracked up to be and they disappoint you all the time" kat said surprisingly calm.
"What does a crazy person like you know" Yihui said grabbing her collar
"I know a lot more than you princess, at least I know when I'm being lied to" Kat said not even changing expression at her collar being grabbed
"Do you know that they were the ones who took me in when I was living on the streets abandoned or that those liers were the ones who gave me food and made me feel like I was just like everyone else. Those deceivers are what I considered family" she said her eyes red with unshed tears. Xu Ling felt his heart clench and finally understood why she was so averse to the idea of there being a traitor, it must feel bad to think that there was someone who wanted to betray you in your family.
"So.. or did you expect me to look at you and think that I didn't know or I'm sorry. Hah, I'm not your boyfriend or your girlfriend or even your friend so don't dump your life story on me" kat said sarcastically. That was too harsh Xu Ling thought, It seems like this is going to go too far and the tension was deadly.
"I don't need a crazy psycho like you to be anything to me and I don't expect you to understand with the car you came in. I'm sure your parents must be proud of you right now" Yihui similarly gave a snarky remark clenching the collar tighter her face in a sneer. Xu Ling stood up at the point when Kat froze; ready to separate them by force if it came to that but she just smiled widely and began to laugh loudly which made Yihui release her collar in shock then she stopped, wiping the tears at the side of her eyes, hands on her stomach. She looked at our dumbfounded expression then gave a chilling smile that was pure insanity with blank eyes
"My parents didn't know I existed and they never will so yes I don't know what it feels like so if you want to compare trauma then let's play I've got a long list that you'll love to hear" she said still staring at us. The result was silence as we all didn't know what to say to someone who looked like she was about to explode. It was a few seconds after which felt like an hour when a ringtone sounded of a cute soundtrack, turning out to be kat's phone. She blinked then picked it up, listened for a few seconds then began to list out random desserts happily dissolving the tension. The call lasted five minutes but we were all in no rush not daring to speak so as to not unknowingly set her off again.
"What are you waiting for. I have a date with an ice cream soon" she said after the person on the other side hung up, looking at us.
"Ah yes. So what I wanted to say was that we should just investigate on our own then tell reveal the spies with evidence" Xu Ling said after clearing his throat guessing in his head that the person on the other side must have been that her friend, they seem really close.
"That's all then, can I go now. My date is waiting" she said standing up excitedly. Xu Ling nodded helplessly and she walked to the cafe she was pointing at when she first came in, a few minutes before that black car stopped infront of it and her friend entered the cafe too.
"I'm leaving too" obsession said walking out.
Xu Ling turned to Yihui who was deep in thought and silently placed a hand on hers squeezing it in comfort.
"You don't have to be the one that's suspicious, just leave it to me. All I ask is that you don't tell them everything" he said smiling at her
"Alright" she said offering a light smile making his heart jump again. Taking courage he decided to ask her to a breakfast date stating that watching Kat passionately describe food made him hungry and his stomach growled in cooperation.
************************************************
I examined Mao pouting at the breakfast infront of her turning every second to the fridge which contained her ice cream she convinced me to buy containing 5 flavors and all the toppings in the shop. It seems like she has finally calm down, it was dangerous because even though they couldn't see it but they were a breath away from being sliced apart
"Neat trick" I said standing infront of the fridge when she looked like she was ready to bolt to it.
"I got inspired from a manwha to turn the dark mana to malleable tentacles as a skill" she said resolutely finishing her food. I rewarded her with a cup out of the tub of ice cream
"Just remember that family in this world is irrelevant, especially one that is related to the protagonist. It all fades away on a new day" I said rubbing her head.
"I know" she said quietly